Crowning Wisdom: Eric of Sweden

The Crown of King Eric XIV, King of Sweden, remains a symbol of that nation’s government. It was made in 1561 and contains emeralds, rubies and diamonds. Curiously, it is decorated with leaf designs, like something an elven king might wear in Tolkien’s woodland realms.

There is no evidence that Father Adam ever wore a crown before he fell, but he was surely King of Eden, and God’s viceroy on earth. Had he donned such a headdress, it would surely have been of leaves and flowers, for his was a kingdom of vitality and verdancy. When he fell, and we with him, we crowned ourselves with tin foil, tinsel and crepe paper, such is the glory and dignity of fallen man. In Christ, however, we have something rather better, and more permanent. Writes the apostle:

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 1 Corinthians 9:25

The Christian is going home to Eden, crowns and all.